For over 30
years, James Burdon
has practiced
exclusively in
criminal litigation
as a prosecutor and
thereafter as a
partner in the law
firm of Burdon &
Merlitti
Tried over one
hundred twenty cases
to juries.
Represented over twenty-four homicide defendants including six jury acquittals, two not guilty by reason of insanity, two dismissals, one not charged, several resulting in lesser offenses.
Represented a multitude
of vehicular manslaughter
cases.
Has represented
clients in Summit,
Stark, Portage,
Cuyahoga, Wayne,
Mahoning, Carroll,
Guernsey,
Columbiana, Lake,
and Franklin
counties.
Argued state
criminal appeals
before the 5th, 8th,
9th and 11th
District Court of
Appeals.
Argued cases before the Supreme Court of
Ohio.
Defended criminal
clients in the
United States
District Court,
Northern District of
Ohio, including bank
frauds, and other
white collar
offenses.
Prosecuted federal
appeals before the
6th Circuit Court of
Appeals.
Noteworthy Cases
State v. Patrick
Conley,
an Akron Police
Officer acquitted of
killing a prisoner
in his custody
(1972).
State v. Frank Sperrow,
acquitted of capital
murder charge that
he killed an Akron
Police Officer
(1974).
State v. Judge
James Barbuto,
covered by
National Television News
Magazine 20-20
(1980).
State v. Robert
Buell, 22 Ohio St.3d
124 (1986), approved
the introduction of
expert testimony on
the reliability of
eyewitness
identifications.
State v. John
Boston, 46 Ohio
St.3d 108 (1989),
limited the right of
the state to present
expert testimony
regarding the
truthfulness of an
alleged child sexual
abuse victim.
State v. Steven
Boszik, broadcast by
Court TV (2002).
State v. Karen Grubb,
believed to be the first
successful defense of a
murder defendant, in the
State of Ohio, where the
jury acquitted on
"battered wife syndrome."
State v. Paul
Stanley, state
dismissed capital
murder indictment of
parents charged with
the arson of their
home with purpose to
kill their 13 month
old son (2003).
State v. Davis
Corsi, state
dismissed indictment
of daycare operator
indicted for
voyeurism of the
children in his care
(2003).
State v. Fred Knippenberg, indicted for the murder of his wife, state reduced the charges to involuntary manslaughter, in the face of "battered spouse syndrome" defence, and placed the client on probation (2005).
State v. Richard Haught, a youth baseball coach charged in a death arising out of a post-game dispute, acquitted by a jury of the homicide (2006).
State v. Jacob Carlson, charged with murder in the shooting death of his brother-in-law, an Akron Police Detective. Dismissed (2006).
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